Иностранный язык: учимся у классиков - Лучшие романы Томаса Майна Рида / The Best of Thomas Mayne Reid

44

a Jack – a common man, a plebeian

45

a tete-a-tete – a private meeting of two persons

46

piccaninny – (US) a small child; an African baby

47

Lucifer – in Greek and Roman mythology, the Lightbearer – the morning star, symbol of dawn; in Christianity, the name of Satan before his fall

48

Tartarus – in Greek mythology, the deepest part of the underworld

49

Pluto – in Greek mythology and religion, the son of Cronus, and brother of Zeus; he ruled the underworld, the dark land of the dead

50

Proserpine or Persephone – in Greek mythology and religion, the wife of Pluto, king of the underworld

51

hullabalooing – making a lot of noise about smth; expressing excitement

52

ambuscade = ambush – an unexpected attack from a hidden place

53

lorgnette = binoculars, field-glasses (French)

54

ghouls – in Arabic folklore, demonic spirits who inhabit cemeteries and deserted places

55

ogres – in fairy-tales, giants eating human beings

56

Titans – in Greek mythology, the children of Uranius (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth)

57

Bacchus – in Greek mythology and religion, the god of vegetation, better known as the god of wine and ecstasy; in Roman mythology this god is known as Dionysus

58

musketry – from musket – a firearm of the 16^th–18^th centuries; in the 19^th century it was replaced by a rifle

59

crape – black silk or cotton material

60

sombrero – a broad-brimmed Spanish or Mexican hat made of straw or felt

61

Cimmerian – related to the Cimmerians, the ancient people of unknown origin who lived north of the Caucasus till the 8^th century BC; later they were driven by the Scythians to Anatolia

62

Aeolus – in Greek mythology, the god of wind

63

the Rio Grande – the river in North America; it forms the border between Texas and Mexico. The river starts in the Rocky Mountains and flows to the Gulf of Mexico

64

mustanger – a man who catches, tames and sells mustangs

65

Satan – the prince of evil forces, the enemy of God; he is also identified with the devil

66

Mon Dieu! = My God! (French)

67

the Rio de Nueces – the Nueces River in Texas and Mexico

68

Fouquiera splendens – ocotillo, or wine cactus, a flowering shrub which grows in Texas, California and Mexico

69

Lipano – the Lipan people – the Indian nomad tribe of western Texas

70

Comanche – North American Indian tribe of the Great Plains; they were skilled horsemen and led a nomadic life

71

Rangers – in the USA, soldiers, trained to make rapid attacks on the enemy territory; in Texas, Rangers were formed into regiments and used in federal service as law-enforcement forces

72

moccasin – a shoe of soft leather worn by North American Indians, hunters and traders; also a common name of Agkistrodon vipers

73

tarantula – a poisonous spider

74

centipede – a long, many-segmented insect; each segment has one pair of legs

75

the Alamo – one of the tributaries of the Nueces River; also the old chapel of the Franciscan mission, founded in 1716–1718, the place of the historic resistance of fighters for the independence of Texas from Mexico

76

papeterie – a set of writing materials (French)

77

portmanteau – a suitcase consisting of two parts that fold together

78

demijohn – a large glass wine bottle

79

corduroy – a durable fabric, used for breeches, coats, jackets and trousers

80

calico – a cotton fabric with simple designs; it first appeared in the 11^th century in Calicut, India

81

brogues – strong leather shoes with stitches

82

Milesian – related to Milesians, the ancestors of the Celtic population of Ireland

83

Galway – a county in western Ireland, the largest Gaelic-speaking region of the country; a seaport and the county town of County Galway

84

Connemara – a region in County Galway, a lowland with bogs, lakes and uplands

85

manada – herd of horses (Spanish)

86

ci-devant – 1. former; 2. before (French)

87

Howly Vargin – Holy Virgin, Mother of Jesus

88

Saint Patrick – bishop and patron saint of Ireland, national apostle who brought Christianity to the country in the 5^th century

89

Yankees – citizens of the USA, or more precisely of the six New England states; the origin of the word is unknown; it came into use during the Civil War in 1861–1865

90

Galwegian – inhabitant of Galway

91

grog – an alcoholic drink mixed with water

92

Nothing in his tout ensemble means nothing in his cloths

93

metier – profession, occupation, business (French)

94

Orleens – New Orleans – the largest city and port on the Mississippi River, founded in 1718 by the French settlers; in 1763 New Orleans was given to the Spanish government, but in 1803 it was returned to France. In the same year Napoleon sold it to the United States

95

Saint Looey – St. Louis – the largest city in Missouri, located on the bank of the Mississippi River; it used to be the Gateway of the West at the time of the first settlers. The Missouri River joins the Mississippi to the north of St. Louis

96

Loozeyanner – Louisiana

97

cabriesto – a kind of rope

98

the garden of Eden – in the Bible, an earthly paradise where the first people, Adam and Eve, lived

99

fracas – noise; noisy quarrel

100

Alacran – Alacran tartarus, a kind of poisonous insects

101

revanche – compensation, satisfaction (French)

102

cantata penserosa – a short musical work for a choir and a soloist

103

hydrophoby – fear of water

104

cavallada – a mare (female horse) (Spanish)

105

mise-en-scene – a scene; view (French)

106

jacales – a hut with walls covered with clay

107

faro, monte – the names of card games

108

hacienda – an estate and an estate house in Texas, Mexico and South America (Spanish)

109

the Guadalupe mountains – the mountains in western Texas and New Mexico

110

the Llano Estacado – a region in the USA on the border of Texas and New Mexico

111

Ethiopia – the country in eastern Africa (1,063,652 square km)

112

the Mexican war – the war between Mexico and the United States in 1846–1848; after the victory, the USA acquired over 1,300,000 square km of Mexican territory

113

Scott’s campaign – a military campaign in the course of Mexican war

114

monte-table – here: a table used for gambling (French)

115

Colt – Samuel Colt (1814–1868), American firearms manufacturer who perfected and patented a revolver

116

corps-d’armee – army corps (French)

117

Morisco – Moorish (Spanish)

118

Andalusia – a historic region in the south of Spain (87,590 square km); the capital is Seville; Andalusian culture was greatly influenced by many centuries of Moorish rule

119

Teutonic tongue – a Germanic language; Germanic languages belong to the Indo-European family

120

peons – workmen hired by the day, who worked in the fields

121

vaquero – a shepherd (Spanish)

122

Azteca – the historical land of the Aztec in the northwest of Mexico; in the 15^th–16^th centuries the Aztec ruled a large empire; their origin is uncertain; after the Spanish conquest the Aztec empire came to an end

123

Anahuac – the part of Aztec Mexico (4,000 square km) where Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, was located

124

Phidias – the Greek sculptor of the 5^th century BC who created the impressive images of the Greek gods; he supervised the construction of Parthenon and initiated a building program in Athens

125

Praxiteles – the greatest of the Greek sculptors of the 4^th century BC; gentle charm and grace of his works greatly influenced the development of Greek sculpture

126

eclaircissement – explanation (French)

127

muslin – a thin cotton fabric; it was first made in Mosul, Iraq

128

Geehosofat – Jehoshaphat, king of Judah in the 9^th century BC, who tried to centralize the country with the help of religious and legal reforms

129

cocina – kitchen (Spanish)

130

chez soi-meme – here: alone in her room (French)

131

Xeres – sherry, the wine of Spanish origin; the name comes from Jerez, the province in Andalusia

132

Madeira – Portuguese fortified wine from the island of Madeira

133

hidalgo – a hereditary member of the gentry in Spain (Spanish)

134

Coahuila – a state in northern Mexico

135

eclat – magnificence (French)

136

belle – a beauty

137

majoress – wife of a major

138

douceur – here: gift (French)

139

Hibernian – Irish

140

caballeriza – stable (Spanish)

141

aurora – a morning star, the symbol of dawn; the Roman goddess of dawn

142

valet de tout – a manservant who looks after his master’s clothes, weapon, etc.

143

paraphernalia – numerous objects used for a certain activity or event

144

impedimenta – provisions, stores

145

Lucullus – Lucius Licinius Lucullus (117–56 BC), a Roman general; he is remembered for his extravagant and luxurious life and great feasts

146

manada – a herd (Spanish)

147

vidette – an observer (Spanish)

148

Hola! – Hello! (Spanish)

149

machete – a large heavy knife used both as a tool and weapon (Spanish)

150

tapis vert – a green carpet (French)

151

caracara – a large bird of a falcon group (Spanish)

152

yegua pinta – here: a spotted mare (Spanish)

153

en paz – at peace (Spanish)

154

braverie – bravery (French)

155

sang froid – composure, coolness (French)

156

Hartford – the capital of Connecticut, located in the north-central part of the state, a major industrial and commercial centre, founded in 1635

157

corral – a trap for catching wild animals, or an enclosure for cattle and horses

158

embonpoint – plumpness, stoutness (French)

159

the Emerald Isle – Ireland (poet.)

160

stampede – a sudden rash of frightened animals or people

161

palthogue – here: an amusing speech

162

mesalliance – unequal marriage

163

presidio – a fortress (Spanish)

164

General Zachariah Taylor (1786–1850) – the American general who took part in the Mexican War of 1846–1848; later he became the US president

165

Lethean – related to Lethe – in Greek mythology, the river in Hades that gives forgetfulness of the past

166

asterisks – marks used to call attention

167

bivouac – a temporary camp, usually military

168

a Joseph – a chaste man; from Joseph, a biblical figure of the Old Testament

169

sotto voce – in a low voice (Italian)

170

with his arms akimbo – with hands on the hips and elbows outwards

171

six-shooter – a revolver with six bullets

172

ma bohil – my friend (Irish)

173

billet doux – a love letter (French)

174

bravoes – brave men (Spanish)

175

salvo – salvation (Spanish)

176

cuadrilla – a gang or band (Spanish)

177

salteadores – robbers (Spanish)

178

Helen – in Greek mythology, an extremely beautiful woman, the daughter of Zeus, and the cause of the Trojan War

179

siesta – rest or sleep in the afternoon, when it is very hot outside

180

rebozo, topado – a cape or a scarf (Spanish)

181

outre – exaggerated (French)

182

equestrienne – a horse woman (Spanish)

183

escalera – staircase (Spanish)

184

cared a straw – did not care at all (idiom)

185

Pandora’s box – in Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman made out of earth; she had a box with all kinds of evil and misery, and she opened it

186

haciendado – owner of the estate or the land (Spanish)

187

inamorata – a sweetheart, a beloved one (Spanish)

188

tomahawks – Indian weapons, small battle axes; to bury (entomb) a tomahawk means to achieve peace

189

desayuno – breakfast (Spanish)

190

almuerzo – lunch (Spanish)

191

comida – dinner (Spanish)

192

y cena – and supper (Spanish)

193

piazza – here: place, open place (Italian)

194

peccary – a wild swine

195

Seminole – North American Indian tribe, known under this name since 1775

196

sala – sitting-room (Spanish)

197

Sientese! – Sit down! (Spanish)

198

Pesos in this very sentence mean dollars. Peso was a monetary unit in Mexico and many Spanish-speaking countries

199

Maldita! – Damn it! (Spanish)

200

Carrambo!, Carajo!, Carrai! = Deuce take it! (Spanish)

201

Santissima Virgen! – Holy Virgin! (Spanish)

202

Adios! – Goodbye! (Spanish)

203

chiripe – good luck (Spanish)

204

claco – a trifle (Spanish)

205

Viva la guerra de los Indios! – Long live the Indian war! (Spanish)

206

Houma – one of the North American Indian tribes

207

bayou Atchafalaya – Atchafalaya Bay, a part of the Gulf of Mexico along the southern coast of Louisiana

208

Conde – Louis II de Bourbon, Prince Conde (1621–1686), one of the greatest French generals of the times of King Louis XIV

209

the Campeador (1043–1099) – also called the Sid, the byname of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, Castilian national hero and military leader

210

Ferdinand – Ferdinand II, king of Aragon and Castile; he united different Spanish kingdoms into one nation and supported Columbus’ expeditions to America

211

Cortez – Hernan Cortes (1485–1547), Spanish conquistador who ruined the Aztec empire and expanded Spanish territories on the American continent

212

Pizarro – Francisco Pizarro (1475–1541), Spanish traveller who led many successful expeditions in Central and South America, conquired the Inca empire and founded the city of Lima

213

Malinche – also called Marina (1501–1550), an Indian princess; she was interpreter and mistress to Cortes during his conquest of Mexico

214

Eve – in the Bible, the first woman on earth, created from Adam’s rib by God; Adam and Eve lived happily in the Garden of Eden until Eve yielded to the temptation of the evil serpent

215

Elysium – in Greek mythology, a land of perfect happiness, the paradise to which immortal heroes were sent after death

216

sylph – an imaginary soulless creature that lives in the air

217

the old Scratch – the devil

218

Jehovah or Jahweh – in Judaism, the name of God; the name is thought too sacred to be said aloud

219

neglige – any kind of informal dress

220

robe de chambre = dressing-gown (French)

221

reja – an iron or wooden grate (Spanish)

222

Hyperion – in Greek mythology, one of the Titans

223

Satyr – in Greek mythology, half man, half goat; Satyrs were associated with the god Dionysus and his cult

224

cottonade – cotton (Spanish)

225

patio – an inner courtyard in a Spanish American home

226

the Almighty – God; the Almighty God

227

saguan – here: gates (Spanish)

228

sangre – blood (Spanish)

229

Madre de Dios – the Holy Virgin, Mother of Jesus (Spanish)

230

Popish – Catholic

231

leperos – rascals (Spanish)

232

table-d’hote – 1. a large dinner table for many people in hotels and restaurants; 2. a fixed menu at a fixed price